The Lehigh University graduate is getting closer and closer to making his NBA debut with the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I know it's going to be here soon," McCollum, a rookie guard, said prior to Saturday's home game against the defending champion Miami Heat. "I've waited a long time to play in the NBA, so what's a few more days or a couple of weeks when you've waited so long? It's inevitable, it's going to happen.

"You have to make sure you're ready when it does."

McCollum is certainly champing at the bit to step onto the court for the first time.

The two-time Patriot League Player of the Year and league's all-time leading scorer was selected 10th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by Portland. There was talk of him keeping the Rookie of the Year award in-house, following in the footsteps of last year's winner Damian Lillard.

McCollum, who missed the final 18 games of his senior season at Lehigh with a similar injury and subsequent surgery, was cleared for 5-on-5 play and participated in his first full practice on Dec. 20.

"I was really excited when I was cleared to practice and get back out there with the team, go through sets with them, guard guys and get away from drills and the rehab phase of recovering from the injury," McCollum said. "I'm definitely looking forward to actually playing in a game, but I'm taking advantage of every practice every day.

"... They have a schedule in place for me and we're progressing close to that date in mind. We haven't put an exact date on it yet."

McCollum said despite being sidelined from actually playing in a game and fully practicing, he rarely sat around.

"I use the term 'sitting around' very loosely," he said. "I was definitely working hard, working on my body, off-the-court stuff, lifting and how a game plan unfolds before the team plays in a game."

McCollum was equally as active when he was sidelined at Lehigh. He was practicing his shooting while sitting in a chair with a boot on his foot or while on crutches. He did similar drills the second time around with Portland.

The Trail Blazers, who entered Saturday's game with the NBA's best record at 24-5, wouldn't mind having their top draft pick join in on this season's success.

"I'm definitely happy to be in this situation on a team where you have veteran leaders, young guys with game experience and a team that's winning," McCollum said. "There's nothing like playing on a team that wins a lot. Although I haven't played in a game I'm still very involved with the team and I can't wait to contribute besides just in practice.

"It's everything they said it would be -- it's fun, a lot of travel, it's different but you enjoy it. I'm thankful to play in the NBA; hopefully, I can get a game in sometime. ... I should be back soon."